UltimateIsland Guide Barbados
Our favourites
Paynes Bay on the calm west coast of Barbados Paynes Bay on the calm west coast of Barbados The clear water of Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown Boulders and surf at Bathsheba on the east coast The Parliament Buildings in Bridgetown

The city guide to Barbados

Best of Barbados

The calm Platinum West Coast and the wild Atlantic east, UNESCO-listed Bridgetown, rum where it was born, Friday nights in Oistins, golf in the hills and turtles in the bay.

Where to eatWhat to see

Your trusted, one‑stop guide to Barbados

Barbados packs a lot into a small island: the calm Caribbean beaches and villas of the west coast, the lively south coast, the boulders and surf of the Atlantic east, and Bridgetown and its Garrison, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We’ve checked every listing against its own website and the official tourism site, Visit Barbados, and we leave out anything we can’t confirm.

Sandy Lane in depth: the resort, the golf and the beach

In depth

Sandy Lane in depth

Sandy Lane · St. James·In depth: Sandy Lane

From Ronald Tree’s 1961 hotel in a mahogany grove to the rebuild of 2001: the rooms, the restaurants and the rules for non-residents, the spa, the Green Monkey and the beach.

Read the guide

Start here: planning your Barbados trip

New to Barbados? Begin with the essentials, then choose your coast.

The control tower at Grantley Adams International AirportPlanBefore you goArrival form, money and drivingWaiting at a bus stop in BarbadosGetting aroundBuses, ZRs and taxisAnd driving on the leftThe golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesItineraryFive days in BarbadosWest, east and a Friday at OistinsA beach on Mustique in the GrenadinesBeyond BarbadosIsland hoppingMustique, Bequia and the Grenadines

Dig deeper: the back stories

Our in-depth guides to Sandy Lane, rum, Crop Over, Bridgetown’s UNESCO story, golf and diving.

Sandy Lane seen from the water, St. JamesIn depthSandy LaneThe resort, the golf and the beachSt Nicholas Abbey, the Jacobean great house of 1658RumRum in BarbadosMount Gay, St Nicholas Abbey and FoursquareSunset over the sea in BarbadosFestivalCrop OverThe summer festivalThe Parliament Buildings in BridgetownHeritageBridgetown & its GarrisonThe UNESCO storySandy Lane on the west coast of BarbadosGolfGolf in BarbadosThe Green Monkey and moreThe clear water of Carlisle Bay, BridgetownDivingDiving the wrecksCarlisle Bay and the Stavronikita

Barbados area by area

From the calm west to the wild Atlantic east.

The beach at Sandy LaneArea guideHoletown & the Platinum West CoastSandy Lane, Holetown and LimegroveThe Parliament Buildings in BridgetownArea guideBridgetown & the GarrisonThe UNESCO capital and Carlisle BayThe waterfront at SpeightstownArea guideSpeightstown & the northLittle Bristol, rum and wild coastsAccra Beach at Rockley on the south coastArea guideThe south coastHastings, the Gap and OistinsBoulders and surf at Bathsheba on the east coastArea guideThe east coastBathsheba, gardens and the AtlanticThe view of Crane Beach from The CraneArea guideSt. Philip & the south-eastCrane Beach and Bottom BayFormations inside Harrison’s CaveArea guideThe centreHarrison’s Cave and Gun Hill

ULTIMATE City Guides: Europe & beyond

Planning a longer journey? Each city in the network has its own independent guide, written with the same care and checked place by place. Here are the guides that are live, with more on the way.

The Acropolis of Athens by day, seen from Philopappos HillGreeceULTIMATE AthensThe Acropolis and the Plaka, rooftop bars facing the Parthenon, the Athens Riviera and the Greek islands: our original guide, and our deepest.Visit the guide The old town of Belgrade above the Sava, with the spire of the Cathedral Church of St MichaelSerbiaULTIMATE BelgradeWhere the Sava meets the Danube: a buzzing capital of art, classical music and famous nightlife, with a new waterfront and the mountains of Zlatibor and Kopaonik.Visit the guide The Romanian Athenaeum in its gardenRomaniaULTIMATE BucharestBelle Époque palaces, concerts at the Athenaeum, a buzzing food and coffee scene, and the castles and mountains of the Carpathians.Visit the guide The Hungarian Parliament lit up at night on the DanubeHungaryULTIMATE BudapestThermal baths, grand coffee houses, ruin bars and MICHELIN-starred dining on both banks of the Danube, with day trips to the Danube Bend and Lake Balaton.Visit the guide Oia’s white houses and blue domes on the rim of the Santorini calderaGreeceULTIMATE Greek IslandsIsland hopping made easy: Mykonos, Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Milos and the Cyclades, plus Crete, Rhodes and Corfu, with ferries, beaches, hotels and tavernas.Visit the guide The Blue Mosque at nightTurkeyULTIMATE IstanbulTwo continents, one city: Hagia Sophia and the bazaars, Bosphorus ferries, meyhanes and rooftop bars, Sinan’s hammams and the car-free Princes’ Islands.Visit the guide The Triple Bridge over the LjubljanicaSloveniaULTIMATE LjubljanaSlovenia’s green, car-free capital of river cafés and Plečnik’s bridges, an hour from Lake Bled, the Julian Alps, the caves and the Adriatic.Visit the guide The Palace of Westminster and the Elizabeth TowerUnited KingdomULTIMATE LondonRoyal palaces and the Thames, world-class museums, West End theatre, grand hotels, and the restaurants and bars of Soho, Mayfair and the City.Visit the guide Yachts in Puerto BanúsSpainULTIMATE MarbellaWhitewashed lanes and orange trees in the Old Town, the yachts of Puerto Banús, beach clubs on the Golden Mile and day trips to Ronda and Gibraltar.Visit the guide Monaco from above, Port Hercule and Monte-Carlo below the mountainsOur sister guideULTIMATE MonacoThe Casino and Monte-Carlo’s palace hotels, the Prince’s Palace on the Rock, superyachts in Port Hercule, Larvotto’s beach clubs and the Grand Prix streets.Visit the guide The Millennium Bridge over the MoračaMontenegroULTIMATE PodgoricaMontenegro’s relaxed capital of rivers and café terraces, and the gateway to the Bay of Kotor, Lake Skadar, Cetinje and the mountains.Visit the guide The Sebilj fountain and the square of BaščaršijaBosnia & HerzegovinaULTIMATE SarajevoWhere East meets West at a line in the pavement: an Ottoman bazaar, Habsburg boulevards, Bosnian coffee and the 1984 Olympic mountains, with Mostar two hours away.Visit the guide The Stone Bridge over the VardarNorth MacedoniaULTIMATE SkopjeA 15th-century stone bridge between a 21st-century square and an Ottoman bazaar, Kenzo Tange’s concrete city, Matka Canyon, and Lake Ohrid three hours away.Visit the guide St Alexander Nevsky CathedralBulgariaULTIMATE SofiaRoman streets beneath the city, golden domes, warm mineral springs and a mountain at the end of the main boulevard.Visit the guide Skanderbeg Square with the Et’hem Bey MosqueAlbaniaULTIMATE TiranaAn Ottoman mosque painted with waterfalls, museums in bunkers, Blloku’s cafés and the Dajti cable car, with Berat, Gjirokastër, the Alps and the Riviera within reach.Visit the guide The spires of Zagreb Cathedral above the rooftopsCroatiaULTIMATE ZagrebCroatia’s elegant capital of cafés, museums and markets, and the gateway to Plitvice Lakes, Istria, Dubrovnik and the islands of the Adriatic.Visit the guide Goat Cay and the turquoise shallows of the ExumasOur sister guideULTIMATE The BahamasSeven hundred islands: Nassau and Paradise Island, the Exuma Cays and the swimming pigs, Harbour Island’s pink sand, marinas and island hopping.Visit the guide The Las Vegas Strip at duskNevadaULTIMATE Las VegasThe Strip and its shows, MICHELIN dining, Sphere and Fremont Street’s neon, with Red Rock Canyon, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon beyond.Visit the guide Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, Miami BeachFloridaULTIMATE MiamiSouth Beach and the Art Deco district, Wynwood’s murals, the Design District, Little Havana’s cafecito and the beaches of Key Biscayne.Visit the guide Sunset at the Naples PierFloridaULTIMATE NaplesWhite-sand beaches and sunsets on the Gulf of Mexico, Fifth Avenue’s terraces, grand beach resorts and golf, with the Everglades and Marco Island close by.Visit the guide Gros Piton and Petit Piton, the twin volcanic spires of the UNESCO-listed PitonsOur sister guideULTIMATE St LuciaThe UNESCO Pitons and Soufrière’s drive-in volcano, Marigot Bay, Rodney Bay and the Gros Islet street party, reefs, rum and cocoa.Visit the guide An aerial view of a small island ringed by reef in the MaldivesOur sister guideULTIMATE MaldivesUndersea restaurants and overwater bars, Hanifaru Bay’s mantas, the whale sharks of South Ari, private islands and the little capital, Malé.Visit the guide The ramparts of Galle FortOur sister guideULTIMATE Sri LankaColombo, the ramparts of Galle Fort, the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, the tea country by train, Sigiriya and leopards in Yala.Visit the guide

HOT TOPICS · Have Your Say

The latest from our readers: visitors and locals talking about Barbados, its beaches, food, rum and festivals.

    Have your say in HOT TOPICS

    Oistins Friday Fish Fry

    This week's pick

    Oistins Friday Fish Fry

    Oistins Bay Gardens · Christ Church·Bajan fish fry

    Friday night is fish-fry night: dozens of stalls at Oistins Bay Gardens grill fish to order while the music plays. Get there early for a table.

    Find out more

    Every list in the guide

    Plan your day

    The golden sand and calm water of Paynes Bay, St. JamesItineraryFive days in Barbados: west coast, wrecks, rum and the wild east5 days, by car, taxi and boatSt Nicholas Abbey, the Jacobean great house of 1658ItineraryRum and heritage: a day in the northOne day, by car or taxiA beach on Mustique in the GrenadinesItineraryA Grenadines escape from Barbados: Mustique and Bequia4 nights, by small plane and boat

    Barbados area by area

    Our favourites right now

    Restaurants

    1. 1The CliffDerricks · St. James · Fine dining on the water’s edge
    2. 2The TidesHoletown · St. James · Fine dining & art gallery
    3. 3The Lone StarMount Standfast · St. James · Beachfront restaurant
    See all 27

    Cafés

    1. 1Bliss CaféSt. Lawrence Gap · Christ Church · Breakfast & lunch café
    2. 2Relish EpicureaLimegrove · Holetown · Café
    3. 3The Orange Street GrocerSpeightstown · St. Peter · Café & grocer
    See all 8

    Bars & Rum Shops

    1. 1John Moore BarWeston · St. James · Rum shop
    2. 2The Village Bar, Lemon ArbourLemon Arbour · St. John · Rum shop & Bajan food
    3. 3Garry’s Rum PunchBlack Rock · St. Michael · Rum shop & grill
    See all 7

    Beach Clubs & Nightlife

    1. 1Copacabana Beach ClubCarlisle Bay · Bridgetown · Beach club
    2. 2The BoatyardCarlisle Bay · Bridgetown · Beach bar & restaurant
    3. 3Harbour LightsBay Street · Bridgetown · Beach bar & night club
    See all 7

    Hotels & Resorts

    1. 1Sandy LanePaynes Bay · St. James · Resort, spa and golf
    2. 2Coral Reef ClubPorters · Holetown · Family-run luxury hotel
    3. 3The SandpiperHoletown · St. James · Boutique beach hotel
    See all 28

    Attractions

    1. 1Harrison’s Cave Eco-Adventure ParkAllen View · St. Thomas · Cave tram tour & adventure park
    2. 2Welchman Hall GullyWelchman Hall · St. Thomas · Tropical gully walk
    3. 3Hunte’s GardensCastle Grant · St. Joseph · Garden in a sinkhole gully
    See all 22

    Beaches

    1. 1Carlisle BayBridgetown · St. Michael · Beach
    2. 2Brownes BeachBay Street · St. Michael · Beach
    3. 3Pebbles BeachNeedham’s Point · St. Michael · Beach
    See all 20

    Museums & Heritage

    1. 1Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison (UNESCO)Bridgetown · St. Michael · UNESCO World Heritage Site
    2. 2Barbados Museum & Historical SocietyThe Garrison · St. Michael · Museum
    3. 3George Washington HouseThe Garrison · St. Michael · Historic house museum
    See all 12

    Golf & Sport

    1. 1Sandy Lane GolfSandy Lane · St. James · Three golf courses
    2. 2Royal Westmoreland GolfWestmoreland · St. James · Championship golf course
    3. 3Apes Hill GolfApes Hill · St. James · Championship course & par three
    See all 13

    Boats & Diving

    1. 1El Tigre Catamaran CruisesBridgetown · Catamaran cruises
    2. 2Calabaza SailingBridgetown · Small-group sailing
    3. 3Elegance CatamaransBridgetown · Catamaran cruises
    See all 13

    Spas & Wellness

    1. 1The Spa at Sandy LaneSandy Lane · St. James · Resort spa
    2. 2The Spa at Coral Reef ClubPorters · Holetown · Hotel spa
    3. 3The Spa at The CraneCrane · St. Philip · Resort spa
    See all 5

    Hospitals & Clinics

    1. 1Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH)Bridgetown · St. Michael · Public hospital
    2. 2Bayview HospitalSt. Paul’s Avenue · Bayville · Private hospital
    3. 3FMH Emergency Medical ClinicSt. Michael · Emergency clinic
    See all 4

    Shopping

    1. 1Limegrove Lifestyle CentreHoletown · St. James · Designer shopping centre
    2. 2Cave ShepherdBroad Street · Bridgetown · Department store
    3. 3Little SwitzerlandColonnade Mall · Bridgetown · Watches & jewellery
    See all 8

    Supermarkets & Markets

    1. 1Massy StoresIsland-wide · Supermarkets
    2. 2PriceSmart BarbadosSt. Michael · Membership warehouse
    3. 3The Dover MarketDover · Christ Church · Grocery
    See all 4

    Luxury Lifestyle

    1. 1Port Ferdinand & Pendry BarbadosSix Men’s · St. Peter · Marina and resort, coming soon
    2. 2Port St Charles MarinaHeywoods · St. Peter · Marina
    3. 3Superyacht mooring at Sandy LaneSandy Lane · St. James · Superyacht mooring
    See all 6

    Property

    1. 1Altman Real EstateWest coast · Estate agent
    2. 2Terra LuxurySt. James · Estate agent
    3. 3Alleyne Real EstateRosebank · Derricks · Estate agent
    See all 11

    Getting There & Around

    1. 1Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI)Seawell · Christ Church · International airport
    2. 2SVG AirGrantley Adams International Airport · Regional airline
    3. 3Transport BoardRoebuck Street · Bridgetown · Public buses
    See all 14

    Motoring

    1. 1Stoutes Car RentalKirtons · St. Philip · Car hire
    2. 2Drive-A-Matic Car RentalsLower Estate · St. George · Car hire
    3. 3Barbados Licensing AuthorityPine East-West Boulevard · Bridgetown · Driving permits & licences
    See all 3

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